Character Analysis Of Reverend Hale

“His goal is light, goodness and its preservation, and he knows the exaltation of the blessed whose intelligence, sharpens by minute examinations of enormous tracts...” This is written by Arthur Miller to describe the character Reverend John Hale in the play, The Crucible. He is a minister from the next town over, Beverly, called to Salem to try to help Reverend Parris with the witchcraft epidemic. Reverend Hale is a dynamic character whose faith, will to do the right thing, and choices lead to him becoming a more spiritual, open-minded, and brazen character. In the beginning, Reverend John Hale is concrete in his beliefs on the Bible and is sure of his calling to carry out the will of God. This is what motivates him to come to Salem when he is sent for by Reverend Parris. The reader first sees his motivation being brought out in Act I, when he tells Rev. Parris, “I mean to crush him utterly if he has shown his face,” speaking of the Devil. Another way he shows his belief and faith in God is he tried to keep the town of Salem holy; he tells them, “life is God’s most precious gift.” Reverend Hale is trying to get the people of Salem to take step back and look at what is really important, which is saving good Christian lives. He even goes as far as to, “…counsel Christians [that] they should belie themselves.” …show more content…
One of these is his decision in act III to leave the court, which is unheard of in this time period, especially in the manner which he did it in. After being so fed up with the false accusations and witnesses full of lies he finally says, “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” Another one of his choices comes earlier in the story in Act I. Everyone was believing the teenage girls and their false stories of witchcraft; however, Hale did not jump to conclusions and he kept an open mind throughout his decision making. Hale even said to Mr. Putnam, “...we cannot look to superstition in